Isaiah 49:6

He says to me, “It is not enough for you to serve me by bringing the descendants of Jacob back to worship me again [DOU]; I also want you to be like [MET] a light for the non-Jews; I want you to take my my message about how to be saved to people all over the world.”

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

In Context

5Yahweh formed me when I was in my mother’s womb in order that I would serve him; he appointed me to bring the people of Israel back to himself [DOU]. Yahweh has honored me, and he is the one who has caused me to be strong.

7Yahweh, the one who saves us, the Holy God of us Israeli people, says to the one who was despised and rejected by the people of many nations, the one who is the slave of rulers, “ Some day kings will stand up to respect you when they see you, and princes will bow down before you because you serve me, Yahweh, the one who faithfully does what I promise. I am the Holy God to whom you Israelis belong, the one who has chosen you.”

Read all of Isaiah 49

Cross References

2 Kings 3:18That is not difficult for Yahweh to do. But he will do more than that. He will also enable you to defeat the army of Moab.

Psalms 67:3God, I desire that all people-groups will praise you; I want them all to praise you!

Isaiah 11:10At that time, a descendant of King David will hold up a flag to signal to the people of all people-groups that they should gather around him; they will come to him to get his advice, and the place where he lives will be glorious.

Isaiah 42:6“I, Yahweh, have chosen you to show people that I always act righteously/fairly. I will grasp your hand and protect you, and I will present you to my Israeli people to be the one who will put into effect my agreement with them. You will be like a light to the other nations.

Isaiah 52:10Yahweh will show all the nations that he is holy and powerful. People in the most remote/distant places on earth will know that he has rescued his people.

Isaiah 60:3By seeing what he has done for you, people of all people-groups will see that he is very great, and kings will come to see the wonderful things that have happened to you.

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 49:2-7

Encouragement to the Gentiles. ( b. c. 706.) 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and… Read the whole commentary →

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